CLOUD COUNTY – Two people were injured in an accident just before 11a.m. Thursday in Cloud County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Lincoln passenger vehicle driven by Tegan M. Kemmerer, 27, Jewell, was eastbound on Highway 9 just east of 150th Road.
The vehicle left the roadway, struck the guardrail and the concrete bridge rail and overturned.
Kemmerer and a 6-year-old passenger Kash Kemmerer were transported to the Cloud County Hospital. The driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
WICHITA — A man has caught an unusually large flathead catfish in a lake northeast of Wichita and locals think it’s the largest fish of any kind reeled in during the lake’s 50-year history.
Charlie Henning had caught an 80-pound (36 kilograms) catfish at Marion Reservoir last week that was more than 50 inches (1.3 meters) long.
All of Henning’s gear used to catch the fish, dubbed Moby Catfish, had cost less than some fishing lures. Henning says his equipment may be cheap but it is reliable. He told the Post he used cut up shad for bait and “it was just our time, I guess. The biggest I ever caught before this weighed 12-pounds.
Marion resident Warren Kreutziger says the biggest confirmed flathead he knew of was 65 pounds (29 kilograms) prior to Henning’s catfish.
Kansas’ record of the heaviest flathead is 123 pounds (56 kilograms), caught at Elk City Reservoir in 1998.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Behavioral Health Commission has been awarded a $1.7 million grant to continue its work with homeless individuals experiencing mental illness. The grant is provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), under the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“This is a wonderful opportunity for Kansas,” said KDADS Secretary Tim Keck. “Our agency is committed to the development of effective ways to address homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse, and this program allows us to do that at the grass-roots level.”
SAMHSA has designated Kansas as a Cooperative Agreements to Benefit Homeless Individuals (CABHI) state. The purpose of the CABHI-Kansas program is to strengthen state infrastructure and treatment systems to provide coordinated treatment, recovery support and permanent supported housing to individuals who experience chronic homelessness and to veterans who experience homelessness/chronic homelessness with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.
CABHI-Kansas is taking a “Housing First” approach to connecting homeless individuals with permanent housing without preconditions such as sobriety, substance use treatment or other participation requirements. Earlier this year, the program conducted Housing First training for community health centers as well as mental health and substance treatment centers in conjunction with the University of Kansas. The Housing First model is used by all the CABHI-KS team. It is an alternative to the traditional approach in which homeless individuals are required to first participate in and complete short-term residential and treatment programs before obtaining permanent housing.
The CABHI-Kansas teams utilize evidence-based practices to provide the best services and outcomes for the clients they serve. The model also incorporates a rapid job search that is available for any individual who is looking for a job, regardless of their work history or treatment status. It is the mission of the employment teams to connect individuals with behavioral health needs to steady employment that can assist them in their path to recovery.
“Our CABHI Kansas teams in year one served more than 300 individuals in three counties, Shawnee, Wyandotte, and Sedgwick,” said Korrie Snell, CABHI Coordinator for KDADS. “Working with substance abuse providers Heartland RADAC and the Substance Abuse Center of Kansas (SACK), CABHI-Kansas has linked 135 chronically homeless individuals to permanent supported housing.”
Additionally, more than 50 individuals have obtained employment through the CABHI Individual Placement and Support (IPS) supported employment program.
KDADS Housing, Employment, and Benefits Program Manager Melissa Bogart-Starkey said, “This grant allows CABHI-Kansas teams to continue to provide services for chronically homeless individuals in need. We see positive outcomes every day.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs, and Related Agencies – today joined U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, in introducing broad, bipartisan legislation that seeks to improve veterans’ education benefits and enhances the post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
“The G.I. Bill, which was drafted by Kansan Harry W. Colmery in 1944, has made a significant difference in the lives of millions of American veterans who have earned this benefit through their service and sacrifice,” said Sen. Moran. “This bipartisan legislation will build upon the post-9/11 G.I. Bill, making certain that our nation’s heroes are able to utilize this benefit for years to come. As they transition from service, our veterans deserve to have the support and opportunities offered by the G.I. Bill so that they can continue their contributions to our country long after completing their service.”
The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 will further invest in the proven educational success of our veterans and help propel them toward becoming our nation’s civic, business and public leaders.
“We have worked closely with our partners in the veterans community and with our colleagues in the U.S. House to ensure this legislation makes the necessary changes to improve the G.I. Bill and helps veterans succeed in their desired career field,” said Sen. Isakson. “I am proud to introduce this important legislation with Senator Tester after the House introduced its companion legislation last week. We urge our Senate colleagues to join us in supporting these improvements to the G.I. Bill to help further our investment in the futures of our veterans.”
“The G.I. Bill has provided generations of veterans with access to higher education after they have bravely served our country,” said Sen. Tester. “It’s been a pleasure working with my colleagues in the House and Senate, as well as veterans and advocates, to craft bipartisan legislation that will break down barriers to and strengthen education benefits for servicemembers, Guardsmen and Reservists. I look forward to working with Senator Isakson and our colleagues on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee to ensure veterans have every shot at success.”
The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 makes much-needed updates for reservists, Purple Heart recipients, veterans who face school closures while enrolled and surviving family members. The legislation also provides increased resources and authority for educational assistance to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, computer programming and career technical training.
Most significantly, this bill recognizes our country’s need for an agile and adaptable workforce and that American workers need to be lifelong learners. For that purpose, this bill eliminates the arbitrary 15-year period within which a veteran is required to use their G.I. Bill so they can use their benefits at any time in their professional career.
Additionally, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017:
· Provides G.I. Bill eligibility for reservists mobilized under selected reserve orders for preplanned missions in support of the combatant commands or in response to a major disaster or emergency;
· Provides G.I. Bill eligibility for reservists undergoing medical care;
· Provides full G.I. Bill benefits for Purple Heart recipients regardless of length of service;
· Extends Yellow Ribbon Program benefits to Fry scholarship recipients; and
· Increases G.I. Bill payments by $2,300 per year for veterans with less than 12 months of active service.
The legislation is named in honor of Harry Walter Colmery, a Kansan Army Air Service veteran and former national commander of the American Legion who drafted the original G.I. Bill in 1944 to improve the transition for World War II veterans back to civilian life.
The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 is also co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Susan Collins, R-Maine, John Cornyn, R-Texas, Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Steve Daines, R-Mont., Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., Al Franken, D-Minn., Dean Heller, R-Nev., Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., and Tim Walz, D-Minn., chairman and ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, on July 13.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Democratic Party’s new executive director is a lawyer who has worked on voting rights litigation.
The party announced in a news release Thursday that Ethan Corson, a former U.S. Department of Commerce official, will take the party’s top job beginning August 1.
He previously worked on voter protection litigation for former President Barack Obama’s second campaign in Wisconsin in 2012 and for the Kansas Democratic Party in 2014.
Party Chairman John Gibson says Corson’s previous work is especially important at a time when Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is working to tighten the state’s and the country’s voting laws. Kobach also is running for the GOP nomination for Kansas governor.
EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued boil water advisories for 12 public water systems in Lyon and Coffey counties.
The advisories were issued Thursday after a major water main break in Emporia left that city nearly without water on one of the hottest days of the year.
The break has been repaired. The water system will be slowly turned back on and will take several hours to be restored late Thursday or early Friday
The health department says the line break caused a loss of pressure that could result in bacterial contamination in Emporia and other systems.
The city of Emporia also is under a boil advisory. Others involved in the advisories include Admire, Allen, Coffee County Rural Water District 2E, Hartford, Lyon County water districts 1-5, Olpe and Park Place Communities Management in Lyon County.
The advisory will be in effect until the line break issues can be resolved.
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EMPORIA- Officials are working to determine the cause and fix a large water main break in Emporia. The break reported just after 4 a.m. has left nearly all of Emporia without water, according to a social media report from police.
The Lyon County Communications Center is being overwhelmed with calls about no water.
They asked residents not to call the police or 911 to inquire about this situation as street crews work to repair the problem.
Simpson-photo courtesy Nevada Dept. of Corrections
NEW YORK (AP) — Television networks returned to the scene of an old obsession Thursday with blanket coverage of O.J. Simpson’s parole hearing Nevada. The former football star is now set for release this fall.
The biggest broadcast networks, news networks and even ESPN and CNBC set aside regular programming for the odd spectacle that NBC’s Savannah Guthrie dubbed “the parole hearing of the century.”
It was 22 years after Simpson’s trial for the 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman, became a television soap opera.
Commentators harshly criticized Simpson and his lawyer for their performance at the parole hearing. CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin called it “an absolute disgrace.”
A Nevada parole official says if O.J. Simpson is cleared to be supervised in Florida, he would report to a Florida parole officer.
Capt. Shawn Arruti of the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation told reporters Thursday after Simpson was granted parole that if he violated the terms of release, he would come back to Nevada to have his parole revoked.
Arruti says Florida parole officials will decide whether to accept Simpson, but it’s common when an inmate has family in the area like he does.
RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man convicted of sex crimes and serving a 22-year prison term saw the sentence reduced Wednesday.
Reno County District Judge Tim Chambers called Robert Dwerlkotte, 48, Hutchinson, a persistent sex offender after convictions of aggravated burglary and aggravated sexual battery. He has previous convictions in the 90s for Aggravated Indecent Solicitation of a Child and burglary.
In May of 2007, police reported Dwerlkotte broke into his ex-wife’s home, laid down on the floor beside her bed while she slept and then jumped on top of her. He held her down and tried to convince her to have sex.
At sentencing, the defendant filed an appeal over the scoring of his criminal history.
The appeals court ruled that his criminal history score was improper even though the state had put in the complaint that the burglary involved a dwelling. So, his case came back to District Court for re-sentencing. The judge reduced the sentence to 14-years.
Even with the lower sentence, that doesn’t mean he will be set free at the end of that sentence. There is apparently a hold where he could be deemed a sexually violent offender. That would extend his time in custody.
The ACLU of Kansas wants Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach to change the wording about voter registration on the Kansas Secretary of State’s website. STEPHEN KORANDA / KPR
By Stephen Koranda
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas says wording on a state website might leave voters confused about whether they’re eligible to cast a ballot. The group wants Secretary of State Kris Kobach to make changes.
At issue is information about Kansas’ requirement that new voters prove their citizenship with a document such as a birth certificate or passport. Court rulings say that requirement currently doesn’t apply to people who register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles or use the federal voter registration form.
The secretary of state’s office revised wording on the site after Kansas Public Radioand the Kansas News Service raised questions about inconsistencies.
ACLU of Kansas Legal Director Doug Bonney says those revisions are not enough. The ACLU has sent Kobach a letter asking for further action.
“They’re going in the right direction, but it’s still not adequate,” says Bonney. “It’s misleading and doesn’t take into account the court orders we have from both state and federal judges.”
In particular, the ACLU has a problem with a notice on the website. It says language included in the notice is strikingly similar to wording a federal judge previously said should be stricken from the page.
In October, U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ordered that this language be removed from the secretary of state’s website:
“For elections that take place after the November 8, 2016, general election, it is at this time unknown whether you will be registered to vote depending on subsequent court rulings and should provide an acceptable form of proof of citizenship to your local county election office or to the Secretary of State to ensure future registration.”
As of Wednesday, a notice on Secretary Kobach’s site included the following language:
“In future elections, it is unknown whether you will be registered to vote depending on subsequent court rulings and should provide an acceptable form of proof of citizenship to your local county election office or to the Secretary of State to ensure future registration.”
Bonney says that language is too similar to what the judge ordered removed.
“It still makes it seem like no matter how you register you have to provide proof of citizenship,” Bonney says. “That’s inconsistent with our federal court rulings.”
The ACLU also is asking for changes on forms mailed to people who have registered to vote but who have not provided a proof of citizenship document.
Samantha Poetter, a spokeswoman for Kobach’s office, says it has received the ACLU letter but has no comment.
Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio, a partner in the Kansas News Service.
SEDGWICK COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities are investigating an incident involving an officer-involved shooting of a dog.
Just after 7pm, police responded to a call at a residence in the 500 Block of North Ash in Wichita, according to Officer Paul Cruz during Thursday’s police briefing.
When they arrived at an alley, a dog charged one of the officers. The officer fired his weapon. When the dog charged a second time, the officers shot and killed the animal.
The officer was not injured. Police released no additional details.
SEWARD COUNTY – A woman died in an accident just before 10p.m. Wednesday in Seward County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer driven by Eddie E. Estes, 39, Liberal, was westbound on Road 13 three miles southeast of Kismet.
The SUV struck a deer in the roadway and traveled into the north ditch. The driver over-corrected across the center line and entered a field on south side of roadway.
When the driver attempted to pull back onto roadway, the SUV rolled once, flipped end over end, rolled two more times and a passenger identified as Lorrie D. Honea, 44, Turpin, Oklahoma.
Honea was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Miller Mortuary. Estes was not injured. Honea was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say an inmate has been stabbed numerous times during a fight at a south-central Kansas prison.
Kansas Department of Corrections spokesman Todd Fertig said in a prepared statement that the victim received “several puncture wounds in an inmate-on-inmate altercation” around 7 p.m. Wednesday at the El Dorado Correctional Facility. The prison also was the scene of an hours-long disturbance last month in which emergency log books suggest inmates fought and that there was a fire.
Fertig says the inmate who was hurt Wednesday received initial treatment at the prison before being transferred to an outside medical facility for “further evaluation and treatment.” No other staff or inmate injuries were reported.
The state’s prison system has been grappling with significant staffing shortages.
